By January 2010, most display manufacturers had announced plans for 3D-TV displays. By and large they will be modified versions of the more expensive high frame rate displays available today. Many will be plasma displays with shuttered glasses as the means of selecting right and left eye. Some models should be available later in 2010.
At least four 3D channels
At the HPA retreat in the United States this week, the momentum for 3D-TV increased. The satellite service provider, DirectTV announced that it will start three 3-D channels from June 2010. ESPN will begin a 3D channel shortly, and their broadcasts will include World Cup matches in Summer 2010. DirectTV will use a transmission format which is termed 'frame compatible' which means the stereo pair is squeezed into a single HDTV channel, and the left and right eye pictures are unravelled in the new display that the viewer has to buy. The system is designed to work using the existing set-top boxes already in the public's hands, though it will be necessary to upload a software upgrade to all receivers.
| Among the many demonstrations of 3D, on show was one of the first 3D video cameras that is more than a consumer model. The camera is available to order for about 21.000 dollars. The company expects to sell about one hundred of them this year. The camera has twin lenses (as seen in the picture) that are separated by about 6 cms. This spacing is not adjustable but the lenses can be adjusted for pointing angle ('toe in') and then corrected for corresponding geometrical distortion by software. |  |
4K 3D?
And if you need something even more exciting than 3D HDTV, the corridor talk was of shooting the next but one Olympic Games in 3D based on two '4K' signals (each with four times the definition of an HDTV picture). Could someone kindly slow down progress please, to allow us time to read the existing reports?